The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-29
AN OLD DUTCH GRAND
 MOTHER.
Youths Companion.

not figure in history as prominently as do the Puritans but they have left an impression on parts of that state, quite as marked, if not so extensive, as that made by the Puritans on New England.
 These old Dutchmen-sons of men who opened the dykes of Holland, and let in the sea to save their country from the Spaniards, and trained in the truths of the Heidelberg Catechism- needed the injunction of the apostle, and brought up their children in ''the nurture and admonition of the Lord"
 They rightly understood nurture" as imparting discipline by means of punishment, and "admonition" as meaning training by word. Their discipline used the "birchen- rod" and rather ignored government by una pie sugar." "Line upon line, precept upon precept, here little and there a little," was their method of training by word
 We have improved in many things upon the ways of the old Dutchmen :: but to-day, Dutch farming is the best sort of farming, and our wisest edu- cators think partial return to Dutch discipline and training would not be without it's advantage.
 Reading, recently, a "Legacy of Historical Gleanings," compiled by a Dutch daughter, we were interested, as well as amused, by a description of her grandlnother's method of bring ing up her children in the "admoni- ton of the Lord"
 The old lady, one of the Van Rens- selaers of Albany, died at ripe old age, some forty i've Years ago. She was "Mother in Israel" and such a cheerful companion that her little grandchildren frequently visited her. Two of these little girls slept in a trundle by her bed.
 Before the peep of day, they would hear the old lady singing morning hymn, and praying in audible tones. Then to the oldest of the sisters the call would come:
 "Catryntje Dutch for Catherine), are you asleep?"
 The youngest, not liking to have her rest disturbed at such an early hour, would pinch her sister as a warning not to answer but the ven- erable dame, intent upon the ''admo- nition," was not silenced. Again and again, until answered., would come the question:
 "Catryntje, are you asleep?"
 Then, very much to the annoyance of tho drowsy sister, there would be a lesson in singing and prayer. By fre- quent recitals at early dawn, the chil- dren were taught such hymns as : "Show pity, Lord, o Lord, forgive ;" "From all that dwell below the skies," and "Most gracious Father, God of all." On Sunday mornings they were drilled in hymns appropri- ate to the day, suchss: "Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear ;;' "Early my God, without delay" and "Begone, unbelief, my Savior is near"
 One of the aged saints method of disciplining, for she believed in "nur- ture," was to give the children page of the Heidelberg Catechism to learn, with the well-digested differences. As the study of this was one of her favor ite pastimes, though dreaded by the children, the old lady, doubtless, thought it a very mild punishment
 At church, the children, as spe- cial privilege, were allowed to sit with their grandmother in a large, square pew, by the side of the pulpit. They enjoyed the seat because they could see the whole congregation. In cold weather the attentive sexton always placed, for the old lady's comfort churches in those days were not warmed by heaters-a chdufe- pied little wooden foot-stove, lined with tin, and holding pan of live coals.
 The children were required to sit perfectly still, hard task for such lively youngsters, whose keen watch ings of the congregation disclosed many mirth- provoking sights. The "nid, mid, holding" of the sleepy ones, the sly way in which an old aelder" would slip quid of .tobak" into his mouth, the sight of a large nose be- grimed with snuff, would make the little ones telegraph to each other and smile.
 But at the first symptom of whis- pering or laughing, out would come 6 large pin," drawn with ominous de- liberation from the old iady's dress. The sight of that pint always seemed 30 handy-recalled them to sobriety. She who had once suffered from it's quiet pricking did not covet repetition.
 One thing perplexed the children. Their grandmother seemed deeply i'm terested in tie good dominie's sermon :; yet on their slightest restlessness her